cortical

adjective

cor·​ti·​cal ˈkȯr-ti-kəl How to pronounce cortical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of cortex
2
: involving or resulting from the action or condition of the cerebral cortex
cortically adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Visual processing is affected with posterior cortical atrophy. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2021 Online guides show which areas of the brain to stimulate, roughly, by positioning the electrodes, in a process like watering your cortical lawn. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023 Li’s collaborator Baoyang Hu, a neuroscientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Zoology, grew clumps of human brain tissue called cortical organoids with and without each of these genes and identified two that made the organoids grow slightly bigger than normal. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 5 Jan. 2023 Thin lines within a bone — much like growth rings in a tree — can indicate the age of an animal by marking where the growth of the cortical bone slowed or stopped for annual dry seasons or winters. Anna Gibbs, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2023 However, the Alzheimer’s Association notes several other conditions that can cause dementia, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington’s disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, posterior cortical atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and Korsakoff syndrome. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 18 Feb. 2023 Gavin is one of only four people in the world known to have two rare conditions — Dravet syndrome, a catastrophic form of epilepsy, and cortical dysplasia, in which developing neurons fail to reach the parts of the brain for which they are genetically destined. Kate Santich, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2020 Locations in the neocortex: a theory of sensorimotor object recognition using cortical grid cells. Ted Ladd, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022 Steinecke says the team was surprised to find that the cholinergic neurons have such a strong and specific influence on the development of distant cortical cells, rather than neurons located closer by. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cortical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cortical was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near cortical

Cite this Entry

“Cortical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cortical. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Medical Definition

cortical

adjective
cor·​ti·​cal ˈkȯrt-i-kəl How to pronounce cortical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of cortex
cortical tissue
2
: involving or resulting from the action or condition of the cerebral cortex
cortical blindness
cortically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cortical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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